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A/N: Hey all! Here is a little St. Patrick's Day Surprise. It's much shorter than my normal chapters but I wanted to give you guys a treat for all the awesome reviews and comments. Next Chapter will be bigger. La Fheile Padraig!

Chapter 6

It was June 4th, three days after the Core Bonding ritual. Narcissa had moved the unconscious forms of Harry Potter and Bellatrix Black from the Ritual House to the manor and had placed them side by side on the king size canopy bed in the master bedroom. She had initially tried to place them in separate rooms but both of their bodies reacted violently and appeared to be in great pain from being separated.

Narcissa marveled at the physical changes in her two charges. No longer was Harry the under-sized scrawny and scarred boy that he was when Bella had retrieved him from his Aunt's house. It appeared that the ritual had rectified the malnourishment that the boy had suffered over the years under the care of his so called relatives.

He looked very healthy with broad shoulders and lean cut muscles; he had gained about six inches in height and put on a good healthy weight and several years older. There were no longer any visible scars anywhere on his body; even the infamous lightning bolt scar was gone.

What she found even more remarkable was the fact that his magical core had reached its maturity and the power levels she saw were only rumored to be possible, only Merlin was known to have such a powerful core. To add to the confusion was her sister's magical core.

It too had grown exponentially and matched Harry's in power. This should have not been possible since Bella's magical core had reached its magical maturity when she was seventeen. Yes she was very powerful then but now… now she could feel the power rolling off both of them like rushing waves at high tide.

Bella now looked to be about the same age as Harry, somewhere in their early twenties. In a word she was gorgeous. Her long ebony hair reached almost to her waist, her skin was like flawless alabaster. She had also grown, Narcissa put her at about 5'10" in height and her body was toned but voluptuous.

Narcissa wondered what other changes may have taken place. The ritual took several turns from how it was supposed to happen and she no longer had a base of reference to pull from. This was all virgin territory and only time would tell.

"Hermes!"

"Yes Mistress Narcee?"

"Will you bring me a cup of strong tea? I'm worried Hermes, I wonder how much longer until they wake."

"Soon Mistress, there auras is begun to settle. Theys will wake very soon."

"You see their auras Hermes?"

"Oh yes mistress, most house elves can. Specially those with such powerful ones."

"What do you see?"

"They is become one Mistress."

"What do you mean 'they have become one'?"

"Their auras Mistress. Theys is merged together, they share each other."

"They share each other?"

"Yes Mistress, she is in him and he is in her, their magics is become one as well."

"Are they… soul bound do you think?"

"I's don't think so Mistress…but theys are bound by magic itself."

"By magic itself? But how…is that even possible?"

"I's is not knowing mistress…but I's can see the flow of magics between them."

Narcissa collapsed back in her chair stunned by the revelation. "Thank you Hermes that will be all."

"Yes Mistress, I will be bringing your tea now, there has also been owl post come, I will bring these as well."

Narcissa gave a slight nod to the ancient elf and then he was gone in a wisp of smoke. A few moments later Narcissa was sipping her tea and looking at the three envelopes with the Gringots seal on them. They were addressed to each of the current residents of Black Manor. She wondered how the goblins knew her location and that of Harry and Bella.

Narcissa contemplated what the old house elf had stated. 'They are one, she is in him and he is in her. I wonder… the combining of their auras…they never separated. In fact they merged, and then there was the third silver light that combined with the other two making the opal colored aura.' Narcissa began to rub her temples in frustration. 'So what does all this mean?'

Narcissa got up out of her comfortable chair and walked to the large set of windows. She opened them up and stepped out onto the veranda that over looked the east lawn. The sun was just peaking over the tree line and began to bathe the property in warm golden tones.

A cool breeze blew past her causing the curtains behind her to gently flutter back into the master suite. She sat down at the small breakfast table and decided to distract her mind for a moment. She pulled out the three letters that Hermes had brought to her silently wondering what they contained.

The first letter was addressed to Lord Hadrian James Potter: Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. The second letter came as a complete surprise as it was addressed to Lady Bellatrix Adien Potter Black: Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter.

Narcissa just stared at the envelope in complete disbelief. Goblins were not known to make mistakes but that had to be the case here. How could they believe that Harry and Bella were married? The ritual? But it was not intended to create a permanent bond.

But the ritual did not go the way it should have. And then there is what Hermes said…'they are one, she is in him and he is in her… they share each other's magic.' Maybe something more did happen.

Deciding to return to that issue later she opened the remaining letter that was addressed to her. The writing was in a formal script and was from the office of Legal Affairs. The letter was to inform her of a private will reading of Lord Sirius Orion Black on Saturday the 22 of June at 8:00 a.m., and the public reading to be held on Sunday the 23 at 12:00 p.m. She re-folded the parchment and sighed heavily.

"Oh Sirius…I wish we could have re-connected before all this nasty business." Narcissa had wanted to ask Sirius about annulling her marriage to Lucius.

As Lord Black he could have challenged the adherence to the contract by Lucius. According to the contract, if Lucius involved himself in any criminal activity or anything that would bring dishonor to the family the escape clause of the contract could be exercised.

The marriage would be annulled and the bride price refunded and all loaned or rented properties held under the Black trust would be confiscated and the tenants thereof would be evicted.

She didn't believe that Sirius would leave the title of Lord Black to Draco, but would most likely leave it to Harry who was also a Black through his paternal grandmother Dorea Black. She knew Draco would try and challenge the will. How could he not, after all he was his father's son.

She had tried in vain to sway him from his father's philosophy and predilections. Sadly, he idolized his father and she knew he would join the Death Eaters as soon as the opportunity was given him.

Draco was spending the first six weeks of the summer holidays with the Parkinson family and his betrothed Pansy Parkinson. The two had been betrothed since the age of two. The marriage would be one of pure political convenience for the two families.

Lucius was known to have the minister's ear which gave the Parkinson's a means to have their less than legal business practices over looked. And the pure-blood Parkinson's were a very wealthy potions distributor and a union between the two families would be financially and politically beneficial for both.

If Lucius had any redeeming qualities it was his ability to see an opportunity where others might not. He was ruthless in business and kept detailed ledgers on everyone he had dealings with. He was a master at blackmail and coercion.

If his bragging were even half true he had dirt on at least half the Wizengamot. At the moment Lucius was sitting in an Azkaban cell, but she knew it was only a matter of time before Lucius pulled the right string and got himself out.

It was a terrifying thought, she desperately wanted out of the marriage and just perhaps Harry would be the next Lord Black and help her out of her situation. Hopefully before Lucy got out.

Narcissa's thoughts were interrupted when she heard movement behind her, she jump to her feet with wand drawn and looked around the ornately decorated bedroom looking for the intruder.

"Cissy?" a strained feminine voice came from the bed. Narcissa turned to see her younger sister looking at her with a glazed look.

"Bella!" the dignified Lady Malfoy squeaked and rushed to her sister throwing her arms around the pretty brunette. "H..how are you? Are you okay? Do you hurt anywhere? W…what happened?"

"Slow down Cissy…you're speaking too fast."

"Sorry dear but you've had me worried for the last three days…"

"Three days?" Bella asked in disbelief.

"Yes, you and Harry have been unconscious for the last three days, I was so afraid something had gone wrong…the ritual didn't go the way it was supposed to and…"

"Hold on, what do you mean it didn't go the way it was suppose to, is Harry alright?"

"As far as I can tell you both are fine, but there has been some interesting side effects and…oh I'm just so happy that you're finally awake." Tears of joy were flowing down Narcissa's cheek.

At that moment Hermes faded into the room. "Mistress Bella is awake!" The elf said happily bouncing on the balls of his feet. "I's knew you would wake soon as will your other half miss."

Bella smiled down at the ancient elf that had been a god send to her since her escape from Azkaban. "What do you mean my other half Hermes?" Bella asked with a slight chuckle.

"You's other half" said the elf pointing to the now waking form of Harry Potter.

"I'll explain later dear." Narcissa interrupted.

"Where…what…where am I?" slurred a half awake Harry Potter. All of a sudden his vision was obscured by curtains of soft curly ebony locks.

"Harry!" An emotional Bella screamed as she tackled him and began to cover his face and neck with soft but desperate kisses.

"Bella…Bellla, easy… easy I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Narcissa raised a prim eyebrow and chuckled despite herself. "I think I'm missing something here, I didn't realize that you too were so uhm…intimate with each other."

An embarrassed Harry, and a smirking Bella glanced back at the beautiful blonde. "Well for your information big sister there have been some big developments."

"I'd say" smirked Narcissa looking at the vaulted sheet on Harry's lap. Harry immediately turned red and grabbed a large pillow to cover his reaction to the enthusiastic attention Bella had been giving him just moments before.

"Back off Cissy, he's all mine." Smirked Bella, who then gave Harry a saucy wink. Narcissa chuckled at Harry's discomfort.

"There have been some significant physical changes in the both of you, here take a look." Narcissa conjured a full length mirror and moved it toward the bed. Bella stood from the bed and looked at herself in the mirror.

"Sweet Maeve…I'm gorgeous…I'm tall and … I look like I'm twenty again… better even!" She gasped as she took a closer look at her eyes; they were the same deep violet but now with a ring of bright emerald green around the iris. She knew that color of green they were the color of Harry's eyes.

"Take a look at your left arm Bella."

Bella knew what was on her left arm, it was a constant reminder of the horrors she had witnessed and lived through. His mark was eternally burned into her flesh, no amount of magic or potions had been able to remove it.

She had tried everything shy of cutting off her own arm. Why would her sister call attention to that awful reminder of her past? Bella's eyes refused to look at the offending appendage.

"Trust me Bella…take a look." Narcissa had moved behind Bella and had gently placed her hands on her little sister shoulder. Reluctantly Bella rolled her left arm to look at the inner forearm. A single large tear escaped her eyes. She shuddered and her lips began to tremble.

"It's gone." Bella whispered. "It's really gone!"

"How did this happen?" Bella asked Narcissa while continuing to look at the unblemished skin of her forearm.

"To be honest I don't know. But both of you have under gone some sort of regeneration. Harry seems to have had the most dramatic change; he no longer has the lightning bolt scar." Harry without realizing what he had done wandlessly conjured a hand mirror.

"Bloody hell! It's gone…the feckin scar is gone!"

Bella bounced back over to the bed and straddled Harry as he sat propped up against the headboard of the bed. Bella ran her fingers over the place where Harry's scar had been and only felt smooth skin.

"Harry…your eyes…they changed too."

"Oh, let me see." Harry raised the mirror again and looked at himself and at first he did not notice anything but then he saw it. A ring of violet surrounded the irises of his own green eyes.

"I have your color Bella." Harry said still looking at the change through the mirror.

"That's not all that changed Harry. You've grown at least half a foot and oh my look at this chest!" She said pushing her hands up his pectoral muscle. Her eyes darkened as she slid her hips back and forth on his lap.

"Oh…yes" she shuddered. "Some wonderful growth."

"Bellatrix Adien Black! This is not the time or place for…for…well it's just not the time or place!" said a scandalized Narcissa Malfoy.

Bella made a pouting face and slid off Harry. Harry would have made any Weasley proud with the color his face was turning at that moment.

"You old prude…" whispered Bella

"What was that?"

"Nothing sister dear." Bella smirked.

"Well I suggest if you two are up to it…"

"Oh Harry's definitely up to it" Bella mewed

"What I was going to say..." Narcissa growled.

"If you are up to it I will have Grisi fix you some breakfast. There are some clothes in the boudoir Harry that should fit you until we can get you some other clothes. The bathroom is through that door on the left, I suggest you take a shower and make yourself presentable. Breakfast will be ready in about 30 minutes. After breakfast there are a few things we need to discuss.

Narcissa gave the couple one last look and then left the bedroom, neither noticed the small smile that she had on her face as the door closed behind her.

Once Narcissa had left, Bella and Harry moved quickly to each other. Bella threw her arms around Harry's neck and buried her face into the crook of his neck. Harry wrapped his arms around Bella's waist and pulled her tightly against him. Several minutes passed by without either saying a word, they seemed to just lose themselves in the scent and feeling of the other.

"We made it…we both made it." Bella whispered into Harry's neck, the gentle warm puff of air on his skin sent shivers down his body.

"It was all you Bella…you saved me. I wouldn't be here if not for you." He squeezed her tighter basking in the warmth of her body pressed against his own.

"Well then, I guess you owe me a life debt then…" she teased.

"Oh.."

"Uh huh…now what can I do with a life debt from the Boy-Who-Lived." She said in mock speculation while tapping her lips with her index finger. "Oh so many possibilities!" she purred, now tracing a long thin finger down Harry's bare chest.

'Oh sweet Merlin she's going to kill me if she keeps this up.' Harry thought to himself.

"Oh I would never kill you my love, torture maybe but never kill" She teasingly replied

"Uh…you heard that?" asked a surprised Harry

"Of course I did, I'm standing in front of you silly."

"Yeah but…I didn't say that out loud. I…I just thought it." Replied a bewildered Harry

"Really?" asked a curious Bella. "Think of something else."

"Ok" 'You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met.'

"Why thank you love, you're not so bad yourself."

"Whoa…so you can read my thoughts! I wonder if this is a result of the ritual. Do you think I can read your thoughts as well?"

"Well, I think it's maybe more of sharing thoughts Harry. Thoughts and feelings; I swear I could feel your embarrassment and then your excitement just a moment ago. But let's see if you can hear my thoughts."

'Once you turn sixteen Harry, I'm gonna give you such a birthday gift it will make you blush from head to toe.' Harry turned bright red as he saw the images of what Bella wanted to do with him.

"Well I guess that answered that question." Bella said as she walked toward the bed swaying her hips and smirking. Bella sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to her. Harry walked over and sat down next to the beautiful witch.

"Harry I think a lot more happened in the ritual than was intended. I don't know how but I feel my magic is a lot stronger than I'm used to. I've de-aged, even when I was younger and in good shape I never felt this good or looked this healthy. And just look at you! You have changed into this Adonis of a man. You look so much older than fifteen."

Harry blushed "I feel the change too Bella. I feel a much stronger connection to my magic; I can actually feel it coursing through me wanting to be let loose. I also feel like I'm…well that is to say I feel like we're connected somehow more than just being able to hear each other's thoughts. It's like my magic is reaching out to you pulling me to you…and yours is calling to me. Does that make since?"

"It does Harry. Since I woke I've felt a strong pull toward you like somehow we are two halves of the same whole." Bella reached out and placed a caressing hand on Harry's face and looked deeply into his eyes.

"Harry…whatever this is, and for what it's worth, I'm thankful for it. I can think of no one else that I'd rather be connected to than you." She leaned forward and captured his lips with hers. It was warm and gentle and filled with love.

"We better get cleaned up and dressed before Cissy comes barging in to break up the improprieties." Bella smiled.

"I'm sure Narcissa can explain a bit more as to our new connection. You go shower up first, unless of course you want some company." Bella waggled her eyebrows.

"N-n-n no…uh… I'll just go in and take a quick shower" Harry stuttered. 'A cold one' Harry thought to himself.

"I heard that!" Bella Giggled

"Uuugghh!" Harry groaned shaking his head as he entered the master bathroom. Things were definitely becoming interesting.

A/N2: Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Please read and review. The search continues for a Beta!